The intolerance of art and free expression in many Islamic countries was particularly and painfully evident in the Maldives last week. A beautiful and powerful underwater sculpture by British artist Jason DeCaires Taylor was ordered destroyed by the government after objections by Islamic leaders for its depiction of human forms. Ironically, the art highlighted the dire risk of rising sea levels for the Maldives. Instead, its demise will forever symbolize the risk of rising intolerance of religious orthodoxy. For some tourists who flock to the Maldives, this outrageous attack on art just might be a deterrent to future vacation plans.

President Abdulla Yameen declared the art to be unIslamic as the depiction of human forms and idols.

Accordingly he sent in men to destroy the Coralarium, which constituted a moving display for swimmers and divers fortunate enough to see it (including at night with underwater lighting).

The Maldives archipelago’s 26 coral atolls and more than 1,000 small islands in the Indian Ocean are the most endangered from rising sea levels. It is the lowest in the world at just four feet above sea level.

I hate the destruction of art. These looked like beautifully formed pieces. Lost forever.

It is clear that Islamic majority nations are not suitable guardians of the art in their country. Even the archeological wonders of Mecca fell to the Wahhabis.

Muslim archeologists should evacuate any portable artwork, or finds, as quickly as possible. I think dig sites are as doomed as Palmyra. ISIS is just applying Islam more strictly than most. Destruction of artifacts, especially from other religions, and depictions of humans is part of the religion. Hence, any country with a majority of this region will obviously have such art and artifacts in jeopardy, either now, or in the future if it becomes more strict.

Save what you can, and grieve the rest. I truly wish that such sites as Palmyra could have been defended by some sort of international force, more effective than the UN.

Yes. Heartbreaking. They should have tried to dismantle it and move it somewhere that it would be welcome and appreciated. I thought the art was really neat. It is so interactive with divers and swimmers. Truly an experience on multiple levels. Plus it is a deliberate effort to create a new reef.

I hope the artist retained the original casts, and can recreate it somewhere.